Trump Uses National Security Funds for Pre-Election Ads
Posted on 09/30/26 at 12:00
A $20 million federal contract is financing an ads campaign that praises Trump with DHS funds. The White House says the commercials are public service announcements.
The Trump administration used Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funds to air advertisements featuring the president just weeks before the midterm elections.
- Why it matters: The use of public money for messages centered on Trump has raised bipartisan questions about where government communication ends and political promotion begins.
Trump Uses DHS Funds for TV Ads
The Trump administration used funds from the Department of Homeland Security to air TV ads featuring President Trump in recent days, according to sources familiar with the matter. https://t.co/22sQaNZW8T
— ABC News (@ABC) September 29, 2026
On September 19, $20 million was transferred to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) account for «commemorative events».
A day later, CBP awarded LMD Agency, Inc. a $20 million contract for a «national media campaign». The ads began airing days later.
- The fact: AdImpact estimates that the Trump administration had spent at least $1.7 million of DHS funds airing three television ads.
The funds come from the tax and spending law known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in 2025, which included funding for border security and related commemorative activities.
The Ads Praise Trump and Attack Opponents
The Department of Homeland Security has tapped $20 million to pay for campaign-style ads glorifying President Donald Trump, drawing bipartisan outcry. | LINK IN BIO pic.twitter.com/Iwumvb9EDA
— WMTW TV (@WMTWTV) September 30, 2026
The commercials include messages from Trump about patriotism, his administration, and his political opponents. Each ad ends by identifying the U.S. government as the source of the funding.
One calls for Americans to «defeat communism», while another uses footage from his July 4 speech at Mount Rushmore.
YOU MAY BE INTERESTED: Pentagon Boosts Cyber Defenses Against Foreign Threats to 2026 Elections
A third commercial revives a message previously used by Trump’s presidential campaign, in which he speaks of a «final battle» against the «deep state» and other opponents.
- The difference: The ads do not ask viewers to vote for Republican candidates or directly mention the midterm elections. Trump is also not on the ballot.
The White House Says They Are Public Service Announcements
The White House says the commercials are public service announcements intended to promote patriotism and explain what makes the United States «worth defending».
It has also compared them to government campaigns under previous administrations, including initiatives involving vaccines, Medicare, and drug use prevention.
The legal debate, however, remains unresolved. Lawmakers and watchdog groups are questioning whether messages that praise the president can be funded with federal resources subject to restrictions on political propaganda.
- The limit: So far, the criticism and complaints do not amount to a judicial ruling that the Trump ads campaign using DHS funds is illegal.
Congress Demands to Know How the Money Was Spent
Democratic Senators Patty Murray and Chris Murphy asked DHS to explain the source of the funds, how much has been spent, and whether the department plans to continue airing or producing new ads.
Republican Susan Collins also questioned the campaign and confirmed that the money came from funds intended for CBP, according to reports published Tuesday.
The controversy comes just weeks before the midterm elections, when seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate will be at stake.
- What’s next: Requests for information and complaints filed with federal agencies could clarify whether the use of these funds complied with rules limiting government-funded propaganda.